Hell most of the bridges in her district of Neshoba County can barely stand the current weight loads. Her county supervisors ought to love this crap. And MDOT can't fix the state roads these trucks rip apart. And while we're on crap has anybody seen the gut job that Preacher-Representative Andy Gibson did to SB2934? He wants to reduce dog fighting penalties to a misdemeanor. It's time to send these clowns home.

1:27...that was the intent 20 years ago when the original variance was passed. It has been bastardized so many times that now any carrier carrying anything anywhere can avoid the weight rules. This expands that concept. I don’t recall farmers carrying much sand and gravel but they all have their lobbyists.

Quick read, but the only change I see with this bill is the 10% variance allowed. Can't find that money trail you (and other tinfoil believers that always want to blame any change in law on those damned lobbyists) seem to see in this bill. Or maybe, you don't know how to understand legislation process.

5:28....clearly a forester or sand mine owner. Or does not understand how trucks are weighed. Or the several exemptions they will get to bypass being weighed at all. Naw, he probably understands completely.

851, not either. Or a truck driver. But can read legislation. Proposed bills in the legislature include the existing law, and any new words are underlined. Deleted words are ****. Reading the proposed bill, all that is being changed from existing law is the percentage variation allowed with a harvest permit.

But since you are so damn smart, how about you telling us what changes this bill makes from existing law.

Basically, whatever the county sets as the haul load limit is what is allowed all over that county. Used to be that bobtail trucks delivered to every café, grocery store, and merchant. Now its huge and heavy 18 wheelers that tear up every road in every town. Load them higher and no one will have an intact windshield for long. If it doesn't hit you the first time it flies, it will come back onto the road when a heavy rain comes and it will it you when it gets thrown from under a truck. I just wonder how many cars are damaged by the re-treds that are all over our highways in the summertime. How many wrecks are caused by trying to avoid running over one of these re-treds. 18-wheelers cost us all more than you realize. More freight should be handled by trains and barges.

Sorry for the length of this post. The current statute allows vehicles with a Harvest Permit or transporting recycle or road building material to have a tandem axle weight limit of 40,000 pounds with a 5% tolerance or an effective tandem axle limit of 42,000 pounds-but the gross vehicle weight limit is 84,000 pounds for a Harvest Permitted vehicle or 80,000 pounds for a vehicle transporting recycle/road building material. This bill allows a 10% tolerance or a tandem limit of 44,000 pounds with the same gross vehicle weight limit as stated above. Doesn't sound bad except that this is 10.000 pounds a tandem axle more than other commodity transporters are allowed. Increase axle weights cause more pavement and bridge damage than the gross weight spread over a longer span

The original intent of the Harvest Permit was to allow the farmer a tolerance because it was difficult to know the vehicle weight in the field. The current bill disallows these weights if the load originates at a facility with a scale. This bill allows Harvest Permitted vehicles 84,000 pounds even if loading at a facility with scales. So a log or grain truck is allowed to leave a grain elevator/holding yard with a scale to weigh 84,000 pounds.

By the say log trucks with F-tags and dump trucks are not required to have mud flaps and are exempt from safety equipment inspections. The current 42,000 pound tandem axle weight is higher than the manufacture axle weight rating for 90% of the trucks on the road.

So next time you meet a log-dump-grain truck you should relax because most of them are law-abiding good old boys trying to make a living and your legislators recognize that.

8:54 that's not what libertarians say. They accept that government has a place and a role, and things like regulating weight limits to maintain the safety and condition of public roads are totally acceptable.

The original variance was passed many moons ago to allow log haulers a variance as long as they went straight to the mill. There are no scales out in the woods. Then it was revised for farmers....., eventually evolving to include a variance in weight limits for "the operation of vehicles hauling sand, gravel, woodchips, wood shavings, sawdust, fill dirt, and agricultural products, and products for recycling or materials for the construction or repair of highways. The range of such operation shall not exceed a radius of one hundred (100) miles except where the products are being transported for processing within this state".

"Harvest permit" seems to be a very inclusive concept to this legislature.

"I can tell you what MAS has to say: Absolutely nothing of consequence. MAS refuses to take a position on anything that actually matters. They are teats on a boar hog useless."

However, if you attend your County Board meetings or glance at the agendas, you will periodically see a measure on the agenda authorizing 3 to 5 of them plus three other hogs at the trough to attend MAS meetings on the coast or at another casino venue.

So, they do play a role. They help us spend our county tax dollars on junkets.

I guess Tater will have to buy some more Pixie Dust to sprinkle on all of our substandard roads. That will solve the problem. Heaven forbid they increase the gasoline tax to a level where we can have some decent roads. Oh no, that's a TAX INCREASE!! I burn 50 gallons a week and would not mind paying an extra 5 cents a gallon just to know I won't be blowing out a tire, or a ruining a rim or having an alignment done twice a year. Thanks you Republican morons. Do your friggin job.

This Bill is only a 5% tandem axle increase - from 42,000#'s to 44,000#'s, it does not allow an increase in Gross weight for Harvest Permitted vehicles. Ole 11:14 seems to live where they had Bad Bridges before they had Trucks, nothing tells a Supervisor they have to Build sufficient Bridges rather than increase Social Program participation in their Counties. Ag & Forest land don't require new Schools, more Law Enforcement Officers, larger Hospitals- these issues come from More People-a growing Population, a developing area in our State. The strange thing is a Lot of You don't realize you have to have the lumber produced from trees to build that new house & even to wipe your behind I believe. The same is true for those trucks hauling that dirt for your House Foundation, the Concrete for that New slab you want to build that new house on also. Come to think of it- Most of You even weigh 5% more than You did 5-10 Years ago don't You??????

Mr. Martin,The amount allowed above the regular operating limit (36K) is already destroying county roads. Gross does not matter to the road if the weight is distributed to lessen the weight per axle. But you are suggesting upping your industry’s exemption to 22% above regular operating for tamdems and trying to sell it as only 5%. Your industry already enjoys an exemption that is costing the taxpayer and destroying roads and you seriously think we are stupid enought to fall for your 5% spiel.

Who is the Hottest Reporter in Jackson?

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything). Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up. In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!